What is deforestation? Deforestation -the clearance of forests by the removal of trees.
- No reforestation = damage to biodiversity, habititat, and ecosystem.
- The deforested areas frequently degrade into wasteland.
-Tropical Rainforests house 70-90% of all organisms.
-25% of Medicines come from these rainforests (World Rainforest Movement).
-As a result of deforestation we lose 50-100animal and plant species each day.
Is deforestation permanent?
Deforestation is not permanent. Reforestation and forest management are ways to promote the regrowth of these forests but often without human intervention, these lands are left to dry and their soil becomes infertile and can no longer provide for a succesful ecosystem. If the forest does grow back, it will take over a hundred years for forest to get back to the way it was before.
Where does Deforestation Occur? Annual rates of deforestation in 52 tropical countries nearly doubled from 1981 to 1990
Deforestation is most destructive in the tropics where the soil is generally more infertile
The three top continents are the most wooded in the world.
They also consist of mostly developed countries
because the countries are developed with urban societies their demands for natural resources are greater
Eight countries, The USA, Russia, brazil, Canada, China, Indonesia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, are accountable for sixty percent of the world's deforestation.
* What species are affected by deforestation? –The effects on animals in forests have a huge effect on forest regeneration –Seed dispersal species and temperature species have a big effect on forest regeneration oWhen these types of species are forced out of there environment, they no longer spread seeds and they make it so the forest doesn’t grow back –Examples of seed dispersal animals are gorillas, chimps, elephants, etc. –An example of temperat ure species that are effected are migratory birds o North American migratory birds (which are also a seed dispersal species) have declined 1-3 percent annually from 1978-1988.
This is an area near the Amazon River that has been destroyed by burning.
Effects of deforestation on us- – Deforestation is actually one of the main reasons deadly diseases are spread from the tropics
– Ebola and Lassa fever are examples of deadly diseases that were discovered because of logging in the jungle
– When humans go into these environments that were previously shut off to us, diseases we aren’t immune to, can spread very easily
– If we continue to log in these environments it could lead to a massive human die off if we discover a microorganism that we can’t cure
external image deforestation1.jpg
Forests in the U.S. in 1650
external image deforestation2.jpg
Forests in the U.S. in 1850
external image deforestation3.jpg
Forests in the U.S. in 1926
http://www-personal.umich.edu/~mblowers/def.html What are the effects of Deforestation on Surrounding Life and Ecosystems? a)Seventy percent of all mammals depend on ecosystems, which are located in forests. b)Just under 100 animal and plan species are lost every day due to deforestation c)Over twenty two percent of green house gases which remain in the earths atmosphere can be attributed to deforestation d)Until 1991 one fourth of all pharmaceuticals produced were derived from plants, and now that so many plant species are becoming extinct we are losing many possibilities for medicines. e)Forests also have a number of ecosystem services which they cannot Fulfill once they have been cut down due to deforestation. f)Forests control the temperatures of the surrounding areas by controlling the carbon dioxide amounts in the surrounding areas g)The soil in most wooded or forested areas is incredibly unhealthy naturally and depends on the plants and vegetation around it to get its nutrients. h)When forests are cut down the soil will not receive the nutrients it needs to be useful, rendering it useless. i)Trees also protect the already weak soil from the sun, keeping it from drying up and cracking. j)Soil without trees or vegetation to keep it in place is very vulnerable to erosion k)Today about eighty percent of the soil found in tropical regions is unusable due to deforestation. l)The trees and plants, which inhabit the floors of forests, create a natural barrier against floods but this barrier cannot work after all of the trees in a given forest are cut down. m)Trees also help to control the amount of carbon dioxide (a greenhouse gas) there is in the earth’s atmosphere and if the constant decline in plant life continues this climate change will become more extreme and begin to impact almost every natural cycle on earth.
What is deforestation?
Deforestation -the clearance of forests by the removal of trees.
- No reforestation = damage to biodiversity, habititat, and ecosystem.
- The deforested areas frequently degrade into wasteland.
Types of Deforestation
- Slash-and-burn cultivation by farmers
- Timber Harvesting (logging)
- Clearance for agriculture
- Clearance for forest plantations
- Clearance for grazing
- Clearance for fuelwood
- Clearance for settlement, mining, oil, and clay exploitation
- Clearance for roads and dams
http://uk.encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_781529809/Deforestation.html-Tropical Rainforests house 70-90% of all organisms.
-25% of Medicines come from these rainforests (World Rainforest Movement).
-As a result of deforestation we lose 50-100 animal and plant species each day.
Is deforestation permanent?
Deforestation is not permanent. Reforestation and forest management are ways to promote the regrowth of these forests but often without human intervention, these lands are left to dry and their soil becomes infertile and can no longer provide for a succesful ecosystem. If the forest does grow back, it will take over a hundred years for forest to get back to the way it was before.
Where does Deforestation Occur?
Annual rates of deforestation in 52 tropical countries nearly doubled from 1981 to 1990
Deforestation is most destructive in the tropics where the soil is generally more infertile
http://www.globalchange.umich.edu/globalchange2/current/lectures/deforest/deforest.html
- The three top continents are the most wooded in the world.
- They also consist of mostly developed countries
- because the countries are developed with urban societies their demands for natural resources are greater
- Eight countries, The USA, Russia, brazil, Canada, China, Indonesia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, are accountable for sixty percent of the world's deforestation.
*What species are affected by deforestation?
– The effects on animals in forests have a huge effect on forest regeneration
– Seed dispersal species and temperature species have a big effect on forest regeneration
o When these types of species are forced out of there environment, they no longer spread seeds and they make it so the forest doesn’t grow back
– Examples of seed dispersal animals are gorillas, chimps, elephants, etc.
– An example of temperat ure species that are effected are migratory birds
o North American migratory birds (which are also a seed dispersal species) have declined 1-3 percent annually from 1978-1988.
This is an area near the Amazon River that has been destroyed by burning.
Effects of deforestation on us-
– Deforestation is actually one of the main reasons deadly diseases are spread from the tropics
– Ebola and Lassa fever are examples of deadly diseases that were discovered because of logging in the jungle
– When humans go into these environments that were previously shut off to us, diseases we aren’t immune to, can spread very easily
– If we continue to log in these environments it could lead to a massive human die off if we discover a microorganism that we can’t cure
Forests in the U.S. in 1650
Forests in the U.S. in 1850
Forests in the U.S. in 1926
http://www-personal.umich.edu/~mblowers/def.html
What are the effects of Deforestation on Surrounding Life and Ecosystems?
a) Seventy percent of all mammals depend on ecosystems, which are located in forests.
b) Just under 100 animal and plan species are lost every day due to deforestation
c) Over twenty two percent of green house gases which remain in the earths atmosphere can be attributed to deforestation
d) Until 1991 one fourth of all pharmaceuticals produced were derived from plants, and now that so many plant species are becoming extinct we are losing many possibilities for medicines.
e) Forests also have a number of ecosystem services which they cannot Fulfill once they have been cut down due to deforestation.
f) Forests control the temperatures of the surrounding areas by controlling the carbon dioxide amounts in the surrounding areas
g) The soil in most wooded or forested areas is incredibly unhealthy naturally and depends on the plants and vegetation around it to get its nutrients.
h) When forests are cut down the soil will not receive the nutrients it needs to be useful, rendering it useless.
i) Trees also protect the already weak soil from the sun, keeping it from drying up and cracking.
j) Soil without trees or vegetation to keep it in place is very vulnerable to erosion
k) Today about eighty percent of the soil found in tropical regions is unusable due to deforestation.
l) The trees and plants, which inhabit the floors of forests, create a natural barrier against floods but this barrier cannot work after all of the trees in a given forest are cut down.
m) Trees also help to control the amount of carbon dioxide (a greenhouse gas) there is in the earth’s atmosphere and if the constant decline in plant life continues this climate change will become more extreme and begin to impact almost every natural cycle on earth.